American horror movie "It" dominated North American box office with an estimated 117.15 million U.S. dollars in its opening weekend.

Warner Bros. and New Line's latest movie is based on renowned horror writer Stephen King's 1986 novel of the same name. Directed by Andy Muschietti and made for around 35 million U.S. dollars, the movie tells the story of seven children in Derry, Maine, who are terrorized by the eponymous being.

"A terrific start for the Fall moviegoing season after a rather slow Labor Day weekend as 'It'revs up a sleepy marketplace and we look forward to an amazing September at the box office, " wrote movie analyst Paul Dergarabedian at comScore in an email to Xinhua.

"It" obliterates expectations with a massive and record breaking 117.15-million-U.S.-dollar September debut. This is by far the biggest September debut ever surpassing "Hotel Transylvania 2" in 2015 and sets a new benchmark for a horror movie debut, according to Dergarabedian.

"It" also on track to be the third-highest opening weekend of 2017 behind only Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

Far behind in second place, the Open Road Films' "Home Again" opened with an estimated 9.02 million U.S. dollars. Written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, the romantic comedy film tells the story of a recently separated 40-year-old mother who moves back to her hometown of Los Angeles with her children and opens her guest house to three young filmmakers.

Lionsgate's action comedy film "The Hitman's Bodyguard" dropped to third place with an estimated 4.85 million U.S. dollars after a three-week lead at the gloomy North American box office.

Warner Bros.'supernatural horror film "Annabelle: Creation" took fourth place with an estimated 4 million U.S. dollars in its fifth weekend. The Weinstein Co.'s terrific "Wind River" finished fifth with an estimated 3.21 million U.S. dollars in its sixth weekend.